Could this third season of Girls
(10 p.m. Sundays, HBO) be the strongest yet? We’re only two weeks and
three episodes in, but it’s obvious the show is evolving — along with
the Girls themselves.

Right off the bat, it’s refreshing to
find Hannah relatively stable and happy. She’s certainly not the
worst-off character (Adam’s visiting sister Caroline — in a fantastic
performance by Gaby Hoffmann — takes the cake on that one). Sure,
another breakdown could be just a breakup/job loss/Q-tip away, but
Hannah’s no longer the spiraling mess we left in season two. We see
Jessa, for the first time, actually confronting her problems (albeit in
her very own naughty way). While she may have been coerced into getting
treatment with the promise of money and then subsequently expelled from
treatment, it seems something along the way has clicked. Shoshanna, a
character possibly plucked from my all-girls high school, is a favorite
of many though she always felt the most scripted to me. Well, as all
good girls do, Shosh has lost a bit of her innocent sheen, which is a
payoff for viewers. Single-again Marnie comes off a bit pathetic, in
need of a maturity kick, as she continues to whine about Charlie (a
character I’ll truly miss) and a certain embarrassing but non-sexual
video of her floating around the Internet.

Girls has become this monster of a
show one either must adore or bash, but I find it to be a pretty simple
concept, rife with humor and plenty of characters to relate to —
sometimes begrudgingly. The Girls are growing up, but they’ve got a lot
to work on. Don’t let the latest Lena Dunham media scandal du jour deter
you from watching it unfold.

WEDNESDAY JAN. 22

Modern Family (9 p.m., ABC)
– When Cam and Mitch try to have dinner conversation without mentioning
Lily or the wedding, the two discover they don’t have much to talk
about.

Wahlburgers (Series
Premiere, 10:30 p.m., A&E) -– In addition to being Wahlbergs,
brothers Donnie, Paul and Mark own a Boston burger joint where they
don’t serve beer, they serve Wahlbrewskis.

Broad City (Series
Premiere, 10:30 p.m., Comedy Central) -– What started as comedians Ilana
Glazer and Abbi Jacobson’s web series is now a semi-autobiographical
sketch comedy show about lady life in NYC.

THURSDAY JAN. 23

Parks and Recreation (8:30
p.m., NBC) -– Leslie witnesses some questionable business practices
happening at the local farmers market. April gives Andy her full support
as he pursues a new musical calling.

Rake (Series Premiere, 9
p.m., Fox) – Greg Kinnear stars as Keegan Deane, a slimy attorney who
defends those only slightly more criminal than himself. This dramedy
follows Deane as he balances court cases with his tumultuous personal
life (which includes a prostitute-girlfriend, gambling addiction and
debts owed to the IRS and his bookie).

Parenthood (10 p.m., NBC) –
Joel and Julia proceed with a separation and tell the kids that their
dad is moving out; Sarah and Hank work together on a Surfsport shoot;
Crosby and Jasmine discover mold in the house.

Gigolos (Season Premiere,
11 p.m., Showtime) -– Because who doesn’t want to watch a bunch of
greased-up STD dispensers get it on for money?

Greatest Event in Television History (Part Four) (Midnight,
Adult Swim) – Adam Scott presents his final TV intro recreation
masterpiece, this time with Paul Rudd. You know the drill: Jeff Probst
hosts a making-of special, followed by the premiere of the shot-for-shot
remake of some retro television series’ opening credits. The show at
hand is still under wraps, but Bosom Buddies and Perfect Strangers are good bets.